Bills' Thomas gaining notice [5:18 AM]D and C reports:
'“Earlier in the year when it was a little bit overwhelming, he got thrown in there and he wasn’t quite ready to go. He just needed to relax, gain a little bit more experience in practice, and understand what we want done and how we want our particular schemes to be played. He took advantage of an opportunity this past weekend and played well.”'

December 25, 2002

Left in the cold [10:01 AM]Cincinnati Post reports:
'"If you'd come in here and said at the beginning of the year that we'd be a .500 team or have a chance to be a .500 team at the end of the season, a lot of people would have said that would be a reasonably successful year, that we had made somewhat of a turnaround," said Bledsoe. "But as we started playing and won a few games early, the expectations from both inside and from outside the organization changed pretty dramatically. We felt like we had a chance to be a playoff team, we felt like we had a chance to throw our hat into the ring and be competing for a chance at a championship at the end of the season. It hasn't happened for us and it's been disappointing for us."'

Time to play in the snow [10:00 AM]Cincinnati Post reports:
'"We would try to convince our players, this is Buffalo Bills weather," he said. "Our fans are tough, you better be tough. They don't even want a domed stadium here. We took that psychological approach, and I think there are some teams that came in and maybe it did bother them. I tried to tell our players that it's an advantage if the others let it prey on their mind. We used to have a statement with our team that if it's too tough for them it's just right for us."'

Late-season downturns are familiar to Bledsoe [9:20 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'"He feels like he's not throwing the ball as well as he can right now," Moulds said. "It's a number of things. We're not protecting him really well, and we have to do better. At the same time, he's not stepping into his throws and making his throws like he did early in the season. He looked at the film today and said he was throwing off his back leg more than he should have, and the ball is sailing on him. Those are things he can correct."'

Bills pledge to play hard vs. Bengals [5:15 AM]D and C reports:
'“We’re going to prepare to win this football game,” Williams said. “We’re going to play the best guys that we have. They enjoy competing, and they’ll enjoy going out and finishing this season on a positive note. We need to win to finish this season out. It doesn’t make any difference at what point in time you’re at in the season, you treat it no different."'

After 44 years, coach Levra will leave [5:14 AM]D and C reports:
'“I’ve loved football all the years I’ve been in it. It’s a great way to make a living and it’s been very kind to me. I’m pleased at what’s transpired while I’ve been a coach, but I’ve had enough, I’m ready to quit and watch the games as a spectator.”'

Bledsoe fit quarterback bill in Buffalo [5:13 AM]Cincinnati Enquirer reports:
'"It brought instant credibility to the position, to the offense, and the team," Bills coach Gregg Williams said. "When you can bring somebody of (Bledsoe's) stature at that point of time, it was an immediate impact of energy throughout the community and the organization. We felt we got a good deal. Our No.1 draft pick (this April) is Drew Bledsoe."'

Bills’ Bledsoe defends not wanting to go to Cincy [5:12 AM]Dayton Daily News reports:
'"It's not like I was a free agent," he said. "I didn't have any say in where I was going because I was traded. A lot of people have brought that stuff (saying no to the Bengals) up and mentioned it. I didn't have any control on the whole situation and I'll just say I'm happy I ended up where I am."'

Bledsoe says signing Price a must for Bills [5:11 AM]Dayton Daily News reports:
'"I'm going to do everything I can to try and keep him around," said the Pro Bowl quarterback. "I hope we can get it done. I hope we can find a way to keep Peerless here for next year and I'm going to try everything in my power to get that done."'

Redskins Admire Price [5:10 AM]Washington Post reports:
'"There's no question about it," agent Tim McGee said in a telephone interview this week. "With Spurrier there, with the type of personality that he has and his type of play-calling, you'd look at it very closely. Although it's premature at this time, I would think that would be one of the places that would be ideal for him. It's definitely one of the places he'd look at seriously."'

December 24, 2002

Power Ranking Week 17 [10:36 PM]ESPN reports:
Bills fans are finding out what Pats fans knew for years -- you have to take some of the bad with all of the good that Drew Bledsoe brings.

Bills' TE Riemersma ponders uncertain future [6:42 PM]AP reports:
'''It's absolutely in the Bills' court,'' Riemersma said. ''I've stated all along that I wanted to be here for my entire career. They've given me no indication that I won't either. But, obviously, you know what happened last offseason. That's a valid question. ''I just don't know if it's worth answering right now.'''

Dolphins' running game thrives on versatility [5:30 PM]The Sporting News reports:
The versatility of Williams and the Dolphins' running game often leaves defenders guessing, and doing a poor job of it. On the Dolphins' first offensive play from scrimmage at Buffalo, Fletcher guessed Williams would cut back inside and try to bull forward after veering outside. Instead, Williams stayed outside, Fletcher was pinned inside, and the play went for a 45-yard touchdown.

Trading places [4:09 PM]Bengals.com reports:
'If Bengals President Mike Brown knew Bledsoe would eventually only cost him a No. 1, would he have beaten Donahoe to the punch before last April’s Draft Day trade with the Patriots? “We’ll never know,” Brown said. “We were told not once, but three times through his representative and other sources that he didn’t want to play here. And we had other things we had to get done once we knew that. It’s very hard to deal for someone who doesn’t want to be here.”'

Packers-Bills Recap [3:57 PM]Packers.com reports:
'The Packers' six turnovers were the most they have had in a game since Dec. 12, 1999, in a 33-31 home loss to Carolina. Overall, the Packers' 45 takeaways are the most they have recorded since 1981, when they posted a club-record 54. They include 21 fumble recoveries, their most since 1988.'

Ask Defensive End Aaron Schobel [10:56 AM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
With 1.5 sacks or more against the Bengals this week, Schobel would become just the fifth player in team history to reach double digits in sacks in a season. The others: Bruce Smith (12 times), Phil Hansen, Bryce Paup, and Marcellus Wiley (one season each).

Bills put on a show that let fans down [9:09 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'And they could have been a playoff team. In a season when there was no dominant AFC team, in a conference that had 14 teams still alive entering the final two weeks of the regular season, they had a legitimate shot and couldn't take advantage.'

Missing playoffs frustrates Donahoe [6:20 AM]D and C reports:
'Had Buffalo won, it still would be alive in a hotly contested AFC race heading into Sunday’s regular-season finale at home against Cincinnati. Instead, the best the Bills can do is finish 8-8 and get started on the planning for 2003.'

Team looks to .500 finish [6:19 AM]D and C reports:
'A win over the 2-13 Bengals would mark a five-game improvement from the horror of the 3-13 debut of coach Gregg Williams. That would tie the greatest one-season turnaround in team history. That’s nothing to sniff at.'

December 23, 2002

Close no consolation for out-of-contention Bills [8:27 PM]AP reports:
'''You always look back on little bitty things when it finally gets over and done with,'' Williams said. ''When you look back on the season, we'll see a play here or a play there, and it happens when you're close and you don't quite get in. It's always that way.'''

Bills' Watson inactive for disciplinary reasons [3:30 PM]AP reports:
'Coach Gregg Williams wouldn't reveal the nature of the infraction on Monday, but said Watson would be eligible to play in this weekend's season finale against Cincinnati.'

Bills never quite close the gap in Green Bay [1:30 PM]Niagara Falls Reporter reports:
'BILLS MVP: Buffalo's defense still needs major renovation in the offseason, particularly up front, but it's hard to imagine a defensive tackle playing much better than Pat Williams did Sunday.'